Carefree awning thread.

[adj]

The stitching on my carefree slide awning has started to rot. Last year I had to resew the edge stitching on the main slide awning.

Today(during a long steady rain), the bedroom slide awning fabric pulled free of the awning rail due to rotten thread and water pooling.

After repair, I would like to weather proof the stitching but don't really know what to use.

Any suggestions?

[AFChap]

Use better thread than the mfg did ...nylon, etc rather than cotton.

I replaced my slide toppers last May for the same reason. I thought about having them re-stitched, but after removing the toppers and finding them a bit brittle I decided to have an awning place make new ones.

[JerryForwood]

How about the waterproofing wax that they use on tent seams. I would think you could find it at any good recreation supply store like REA or similar. But then it's been years since I went tent camping.
Jerry

[quikduk]

You mean REI...but then I mesup my speling sometimes too.

I need to have both our slide topper and main patio awning replaced and while I thought about getting the fabric from Carefree and installing them myself, I may have a boat cover shop replace them with some Sunbrella fabric and rot proof thread as the cost of the fabric is similar and I really don;t want to wrestle with those springs.

[abarkl]

I recently repaired two of my awning seams and used fishing line to replace the 7 year old cotton-based thread; hopefully it will hold-up to the Arizona sun longer.

[RV Wizard]

To answer your second questions keep the awning fabric clean and I use Scotch Guard with UV protection about once a year to help preserve the fabric and threads. Has worked for 10 years on the original awnings.

[Blue Ribbon]

Do NOT use nylon thread, it is almost as bad as cotton. Use Dacron - sails are made with that.

[Pusherman]

I have no experience on this, but have heard you can use candle wax to weatherproof the thread seams. Cheap fix if it works.